FanPost

37. New Kids on the Block: The View from Memphis

Timlogo-be_medium

This continues and concludes an interview with my old (and I do mean OLD) college roommate, A.J. the Kiwi. Yesterday, we bored you all to tears with a verbose blabathon about the 1980/81 Oregon State Beavers. Those of you sickos who are into self-inflicted agony who missed that can just click THIS LINK and subject yourselves at your leisure.

In this second installment, we talk about the NBA and the Blazers in addition to making lewd remarks relating to the moral turpitude of the other.

Just as boring, less informative, more offensive — the full package!

 

TIMBO: All right, Pork Chop, we've made it through the preliminaries... Time to get serious so we don't get panned off the stage. Remind us again what they NBA situation is in New Zealand... How many games a week can the average Kiwi see on free TV? Explain what Yankee Rupert Murdoch's money making scheme is — how many channels do you get from him, what does it cost, and how many NBA games does that get you a week if you don't miss any?

Aj-then_medium
AJ: Free?!? Ha! Forget THAT concept. It's Rapacious Rupert [Murdoch] we are dealing with here. There is very little free to air sport theses days. Sure, you get a replay of stuff like International Rugby matches, with commercials interrupting them, broadcast after the live event — but there is really none to speak of. So ya gotta subscribe to the ONE option thats available — Mr. Murdoch's "Sky Channel." This, which includes ESPN, costs about $30 US a month and then you can upgrade. My package costs about double that.

That gives me 4 Sports channels, not including a Horse Racing one, and it gives me the NBA games that are shown on ESPN which are about 2 live ones a week during the regular season. The frequency increases during playoffs. I also get NFL, the English Premier League Soccer, International Rugby...

TIMBO: So what about the Australian pro basketball league? Do you know much about that? 

AJ: There is a league in Oz called the NBL, in which NZ has a team called the Breakers. Its basically a dumping ground for cast-offs from Europe, the NBA, and minor USA leagues, as well as a place for locals. I think Chris Anstey is in it, as is a 7' centre called Luke Schensche — both these are ex-NBA. The Breakers had some ex-NBA journeyman called Awvee Storey playing for them a couple of months back, but they cut him coz he was useless. The teams allow two 'Imports' , these are usually Americans who can't find a home elsewhere. So they come downunder, get paid pesos, and enjoy the lifestyle. And our sheep.

TIMBO: How would you rate the level of play in the Australian NBL compared in that league to the NBA? If the best Aussie league team played the worst NBA team on a neutral site, what would the score be?

AJ: The level of play ...well...the 3-Point line is the International Law one, so THERE'S a starting point. The speed is MUCH slower, the skill level obviously LOWER... The competition within the league is close and there isn't much between the teams, apart from maybe two total garbage ones...
Hmmmmsay, if the Nets (who seem about the worst?) played the top team ??? Hmmmm..... Nets by 25. Maybe more.

But the thing that still amuses me greatly to this day is the result in the 2002 World Championship. No, NOT the NBA Champs , but the WORLD Champs. Y'know, that's when ya play OTHER countries in the World ??? Team USA fielded a fairly strong line up of current and future NBA stars (although the only one I recall right now is Paul Pierce) but..... NZ BEAT YA!!!! We got 4th and USA got , like 6th I think... Fair Dinkum. Look it up if you don't believe me...

Timbo-then2_medium

TIMBO: I'm sure that throughout the Pacific Northwest there will be dozens who can't sleep tonight worrying about the result of that 2002 tourney... Now that they know about it, it is no doubt quite troubling... Please do send me a couple of the commemorative coins that NZ strikes in 2012 in honor of the 10th Anniversary of The Great Triumph, wouldja?

Okay, now for the question that everybody wants to know: you're from New Zealand, which is sort of close to Australia, so tell us everything you know about Patty Mills and his game...

AJ: He's a bloke ...?? Called PATTY?!?!?  Nah. You're winding me up. Are you sure (s)he's not a dodgy Aussie doing a sort of reverse Caster Semanya??? I'm sure he's really called Bruce. Everyone ELSE In Australia is...

Actually, I haven't seen him play...

TIMBO: YOU HAVEN'T SEEN HIM PLAY?!?! I've been stringing these poor people along, implying that you're about to deliver a divine revelation, and YOU HAVEN'T SEEN HIM PLAY!?!?

AJ: I believe he's cut from the same cloth as Bayless, no? Assuming they are similer players, then do the Blazers really need to carry BOTH? if one is content to back up another, then all well and good. that would add depth to the squad I guess. My guess is one will be traded for a decent future pick or a Big. Dwarfs get stomped in this league because Guards have to rebound, too. And Timbo, as your good lady wife has always told you, size DOES matter. And the reference is not to your extraordinary nasal endowment. Please express my condolences to her, ho ho.

TIMBO: I'm just gonna ignore that... Let's get to brass tacks: Which NBA teams do you follow?

AJ: As you might have guessed, I am a Blazers junkie. Thus explaining the fragility of my current mental state, having long-suffered the appalling 80's , the peak of which was the passing over of MJ for one bucket of lard named Sam Bowie... I think History would rate that call in the same category as Hitler deciding "Hey, the weather ain't so bad. Let's push on to Moscow...," the Dutch trading Manhattan for the spice laden Pulao Islands, which contained no spice, and Olaf the Hairy, King of the Vikings, who ordered 10,000 battle helmets with the horns on the INSIDE...

There was some respite in the early 90's, when we got that beady eyed hyperprocreating choirboy Danny Ainge to pair up with Porter and Drexler — but SO much pain and self-inflicted misery since then. Ooooyuk. We've had Rasheed (who IS/ was talented) there was Rod Strickland, who could dribble but couldn't shoot... There was that 6-6 foward of a few years ago who did most of the scoring and ALL of the complaining, Zach Randolph, there was Bonzi who was great in his first year and maybe his second, but by all accounts was not good for team harmony, shall we say... Did Pippen ever do ANYTHING but bank Paul's Bucks??? And the WORST starting Blazer of the last 20 years???

Aj-now_medium

Drum Roll ..........

"Dribbling" Damon Stoudamire,  5-10 (I think) who blew about 20 of the 24 seconds dancing around himself, then finally, when the clock had the life expectancy of a Chinese Chicken, he'd throw it to someone in the double team or chuck up a brick.

TIMBO: Okay, you're the ultimate outsider, you're outside the reach of the propaganda tentacles of the Portland Trail Blazer Cult... Tell us about our team, player by player, with brutal frankness...

Hi . Brutally Frank here.

Boy, are you Yanks gonna rain PAIN on my tender buttocks for THIS one... Bear in mind that truthfully, I've only seen a few games — the number that ESPN deem appropriate to send our way. So on THAT basis....

Oden: Has the build and presence to TRULY dominate anyone , now that Shaq is a Grandad. Needs to patent a trademark shot, like Kareem did the Skyhook, to develop into a reliable Go-To option for Points-In-The Paint. Was building NICELY when the Curse of the Portland Centre struck again But imagine... OFFence AND DEfence. Ooooooo.... Ahhhhhhhhhhhh....... Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm........................

Aldridge: I'm sorry, but he's soft. Six-foot-11 with first option that's an outside jumper ????? Nah. Get your arse inside, fella, and do some real work.....

Andre ("You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet") Miller: I ain't seen NOTHIN' yet... (OK, it seems he had a good game against GS).

Brandon: A small X-factor away from TRUE greatness. Maybe his outside shot needs a bit more work, but he gets to the basket SO damned easily.

Bayless: The first time I saw him was the San Antone game recently. He is a HUGE asset. He can run pass and shoot... He can defend and he's hungry. He'll be starting with Roy soon....

Webster: What I've seen I've liked. Each team needs a reliable outside threat and, judging a LOT on the SA game, he looked like he could be it.

Joel: Hell, EVERYBODY likes Joel. I do too. He kinda gives the impression he's playing WAY beyond his ability, which means he's got the attitude, the drive and the Hunger. Surely he and Oden must be the best PAIR of Centre's when fully fit, in the League?

Rudy: I think he's over rated.

Blake: Hmmmmm.....I like him when he's hot. But not when he isn't.

Dunno about Dante or Pendergraph, but it seems the last-mentioned kid can rebound.....

Timbo-now_medium

TIMBO: So what's missing from this group? What sort of player does Portland need to add?

AJ: What I WANT — I want a "Testicle" Bill Laimbeer.†  I want a "Dirty" Dennis Rodman. I want a 6-10 Mean Mother who has a liking to rebound Ball in the way that would make the 80's Pistons look like pansies. Someone who could pound 'em inside, then could pass like............ Bill Walton.

I wonder if they regret losing Channing Frye right now. He could have been useful. But the roster, if all fit, is pretty damned good.

TIMBO: What do you make of the recent rash of Blazer injuries? Do the gods hate Kevin Pritchard, or what? I note that all of this injury situation was started right after Patty Mills was signed, when Mills himself hurt himself in the first practice of training camp... I wonder this of you: Do you think there is a relationship between the presence of an Australian on the Blazer roster and the team's ongoing injury woes?

AJ: Undoubtably. The organisation is now culturally corrupted, and it'll be easier to get the stain out of your month-old underwear than remove the contamination now inflicted upon the team. Make no mistake soon he'll have them drinking Bad Beer, wearing silly cork-laden hats, introducing them to sheep and have everyone watching Crocodile Dundee re-runs at team meetings....

Poor KP. He's really offended the Gods, what with the Curse of the Portland High Draft Pick , and all the rest... He must have been really evil in a previous life....

TIMBO: Given the loss of Oden and Przybilla for the season, and assuming the loss of Outlaw, what do you think Portland's chances are in the post-season this year? Can they beat the Lakers, with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum clogging up the key?

AJ: They have done well, remarkably well, to get this far. Guts and motivation will take them a long way, and in the future this whole thing may have been a positive in that it allows character to come through  and experience to be gained. They wont beat the Lakers. So far, Brandon has been like Captain Sully and guided the plane in on no power, but eventually the thing crashed .....

 

END

 

† — Named as such because as he didn't jump, he made sure no-one ELSE did, either....

Nothing to Do with Basketball.

 

Tuesday, February 14, 1984, 10:30 pm, Timaru, South Island.

We cam here this afternoon by rail, riding the "Southerner." Our car was an old one, with aqua blue easy chair seats, testimony to the fashion-sense of a bygone age. The train was long and not fast and the silvers and greens of the Pacific Ocean and the myriad shades of brown and green of the New Zealand countryside rolled by at a comfortable place as we made our way from Otago to South Canterbury.

Tonight we stay in an $11 motor camp cabin, quite comfortable and quite the bargain after having shelled out $96 for three nights of bed & breakfast in Dunedin. Sheets are included and we get a double bed in a fairly new cabin. Life could be worse.

We went out for a couple beers tonight and on the way to the pub met up with a guy staying at our motor camp. He was from Otago province to the south. He was in his early 30s, with a receding crop of brown hair and a mustache. There was a large, curving scar on his forehead and he talked slowly, almost drunkenly, observing us all the while through piercing blue eyes.

"Going to the pub?" he asked.

"You bet!"

"So, are you Canadians or Americans?" he queried, noting my accent.

"Americans"

Db_medium

"What state are you from?"

"Oregon."

"Oh. Up North. I've been there. Yeah, I worked in America for a while, in a mine in Arizona. I went over with a mate of mine and he's still there. Ah, my boss: 'Kiwi, can you mine?' he asked and when I says yes he said, 'Well then, get your ass down there and mine!' Oh, he was a tough one, a really tough Yank. I stayed in America for a few years, but then it was time to move on. If I had stayed too long I wouldn't have known where I was from anymore. My mate's been in America for 10 years now..."

He paused, thinking of the friend who was lost to him.

"Well, how long have you been in New Zealand?" he eventually continued.

"Oh, about 3 months. We spent the last 2 weeks riding around the South Island on trains and busses. Before that we rode bikes on the North Island."

"What do you think of the country?"

"Oh, we like it. But we're ready to go home now."

We arrived at the pub and began to say our goodbyes, planning to head around to the bottle store on the side to grab a couple quarts of beer to bring back to our cabin. Our new miner friend would have nothing of it.

"Come on in and I'll shout you a jug!" he insisted.

So the three of us went in and our new acquaintance bought a pitcher of DB. Later we shouted him a pitcher back, as the Kiwis do. We talked about his country and ours and of our unquenched and unquenchable craving for American food like tacos and spaghetti and pizza.

I turned our conversation towards politics. Our new friend was a loyal National Party man, who thought that Robert Muldoon, the leader of the party, was a socialist, albeit completely entrenched. He thought that "Piggy" would win re-election in November. He sympathized with Bob Jones and his fledgling conservative New Zealand Party, but clearly wasn't going to support them unless they had a shot of winning. He didn't think they had a chance.

We had a long and somewhat heated conversation about American foreign policy — our friend was without question the most pro-military New Zealander that we had ever met. He was concerned about "losing the arms race" to the Soviets; we couldn't successfully make our case to him that 16,000 nuclear warheads was enough, that there was no way that the Russians or anyone else was going to "win" the arms race, and that if the US was really serious about "stopping the Soviets," they'd reallocate half their current military budget to economic aid to the Third World.

We subsequently learned that our miner friend had also spent several years in the gold mines of South Africa, before moving north to Rhodesia, where he had fought in the Rhodesian army at the end. We obviously didn't see the world very similarly, but we were happy to have someone with whom to drink piss.

We stayed until the publican began flipping the lights on and off. Knowing how to read such subtle hints, the three of us finished our glasses and headed home.

 

               fragment from Quest for Food, an unpublished New Zealand travel diary.

 

 

¡Noticia importante!

Watch Victor Claver in Action for Free!

Powerelectronics_medium

Nuestro bien compadre amlmart1 put up a link in the FanShots Monday that's really, really important for hoops junkies interested in following the development of KP's #1 dreamboat draft pick from last season, Victor Claver.

Assuming that not everybody saw our friend's original post, I am repeating it here.

The site to which he links is that of the Spanish ACB league and it has a smorgasbord of completed games ("diferidos") for the viewing, as well as the ability to stream forthcoming contests ("próximos partidos"). This is a site established by the league — it is all legal, all free, and the quality of video for the archived game that I watched is OUTSTANDING, somewhat better than NBA League Pass Broadband, or at least as good.

First, here is the link amlmart1 provided again:  http://acb360.orange.es/matches/LACB/54/138

Claver wears the orange-and-blue for POWER ELECTRONICS VALENCIA and is uniform #9.

One of the games currently available is "Power Elec. Valencia" v. "Gran Canaria 2014," which you will find on the "Diferidos" spooler...

Ricky Rubio, another guy you may want to follow, plays for DKV Joventut, which also has a game available.

·   ·   ·   ·   ·

I won't give you a spoiler on the Power Electronics result in case some of you want to watch the game but since this is the first time I've seen Victor Claver play, I will offer a few words on him:

First off, the very obvious about him: Claver is NOT a Big nor is he a power player, he's a Wing. He looks to be about 6'7" or maybe 6'8" (certainly bigger than Rudy) and he's going to be a Small Forward all the way if he comes over to the US. If I were to use one adjective to describe his body type, I would call Claver "gangly." Of course, Reggie Miller was also "gangly" and things turned out pretty okay for him. But Reggie was a shooter and Claver is penetrator at this point and it's a little hard to see how he would fit in with Portland's style.

Claver is clearly not compact or quick enough to play SG in the NBA, nor is he bulky enough to mash as a PF. As an exclusive SF, Claver would be on the depth chart under Batum and Webster and Outlaw. He plays like none of those guys, however, his game most resembling to me that of the guy who was drafted right behind him — Omri Casspi of the Sacramento Kings.

Claver hustles very well and has good instincts about cutting to the hoop. He's also seemingly willing to work for offensive rebounds and has enough size to score the putbacks once he does pull down the ball. He seems to be a coordinated free throw shooter. He looks like a grinder rather than a pure athlete. There is nothing wrong with being a grinder, providing a person is big enough and tough enough and knows that is what they want to do. I'd need to see more than one game to have a good idea whether Claver really wants to make his living as a grinder...

One isn't swept up with the sensation that Victor Claver is a superstar in the ACB though. Just one pretty good player out of many. He's got good size for his position and decent skills, but I'd've taken Omri Casspi with the 22 pick myself... Not even close... I still don't quite understand why KP felt compelled to trade up in the draft just to take Claver.

 

Channel Surfing.

Tuesday, Jan. 5.

Grizzlies_medium

Memphis Grizzlies (16-16) at Portland Trail Blazers (22-14).

Portland got in from LA on Tuesday morning around 2:45 AM. They got to the Rose Garden to play again that same afternoon. The battery was low coming into the game, in other words. The opponent? Rested and ready to go, one of the top scoring teams in the NBA — averaging about 57 points per game in the paint. Good luck with that to the undermanned Blazers.

First Quarter.

Memphis bricked a jumper to open and Andre Miller got to the rack on the other end. That's the formula for success in this matchup. Third trip down the floor, Brandon tried to take a charge while inside the restricted area and got mashed by the 250 pounder that I used to call "Porky Biker" during the Olympics. Although the mushing sounds could be heard all the way in the concourse, Roy rose more or less fully functional. And there was much rejoicing.

Rice declared the party line on Memphis: "They just think of offense, they're just like Golden State."

Best news for Portland was the return of LMA, who got a very early bucket before splitting a pair of free throws at the 7:00 mark. That gave him three more points than Brandon Roy, who opened his night with a miss. Andre managed a 10 foot airball from the baseline, Z-Bo looked, dare I say it? — sleek — draining a 15 foot fadeaway on the other end. At some point we all are going to have to come to terms with the idea that Zach Randolph is a legitimate All Star in this league. Scary thought, I know.

At the 5 minute mark Brandon was found by Andre Miller making a backdoor cut for and AND ONE which knotted the score and broke ice for him. The quarter played very evenly, with Memphis holding an advantage of a point or two for much of the period. Portland turned over the ball on back to back possessions around the two minute mark, with Z-bo making them pay. Rex drove and kicked to Roy for a corner-3 though, cutting the lead to 1 which was answered in kind by Memphis.

Coming down to the wire, with less than 30 seconds to play, Rex snagged a ball from a Grizzly in the key and went coast-to-coast into the teeth of the opposition, finishing reeeeeeal purty. Thus the lead: Portland 25, Grizz 24 at the end of 1.

Second Quarter.

Memphis came out looking to pass and working the ball down low. Gasol couldn't finish, but Rex hit a confident 20 footer on one possession and dished a gorgeous oop to LMA. Portland's run over was extended to 8-0 and the scoreboard had Blazers +5, 29-24. The Blazers are a much better team when Rex is a threat and early in this game it was clear that the FAILs which ailed him were in his rearview mirror.

During the commercial break resulting from the Grizz time out, MB read a promo for Rebound Orthopedics and Neurosurgery. The irony was not lost upon him. Write your own joke.

With the Blazers up 3, LMA took the ball hard into Hasheem Thabeet, the 7'3" stringbean rookie Center. LMA hit a pair this time. Rex hit another overly long 2 pointer. And then Rex posted up his man just inside the top of the key before kicking a lightning quick pass Marty for the first of two straight treys, his 3rd assist of the game. Blazers pushed the lead to 9 and Memphis Head Coach Lionel Hollins called a second timeout under duress.

Rex blew by Tinsley and hit a wide open Howard on the perimeter for his 4th assist. I am not a fan of that statistic as determinative, but I can appreciate a good pass as much than the next guy. And that made four REALLY NICE passes to teammates for made buckets for the cocky kid. You go, cocky kid.

With the Grizz up 6 Nate called a play for Roy coming out of a time out. The make gave Roy 10 on the night, to go with 5 assists. Good stuff from a guy that needs to deliver good stuff for an undermanned Blazer team to have a chance against the stacked and healthy Grizz.

LMA capped Z-Bo hard at the 3:17 mark to a great ovation. But shortly thereafter Zach snarfed an offensive board off a missed FT for a putback 2 and then flopped trying to fight for position for a defensive rebound and thereby earned 2 penalty shots, drawing his team to just 1 point behind, 52-51, despite the Blazers shooting over 60% from the floor for the night.

At 1:29, Roy once again attempted to take a charge with a foot in the restricted circle. BOOM! Roy wound up with blood on his arm, blood on his shirt, and heading for the bench, while the Grizzlies headed for the line to tie the game at 54. Rex came in for Roy and found a wide open lane to the rim to take the lead back for PDX. LMA hit a bucket for Portland, Grizz hit one and split a pair of FTs and it was 58-57 at the half.

Halftime scorers looked like this... For Portland: Andre 12; Roy 10; LMA and Juwan, 9 each; Marty and Rex, 8 each. That's 6 guys knocking on double-digit scoring, which is what this Roycentric team needs. For Memphis: Rudy Gay 15, our friend Zach 12, Mayo 9, Conley 7, Gasol 6. Blazers shot 61% and Memphis 55%. Blazers lead in fast break points 7 to 4 and had 15 assists against only 2 turnovers.

Third Quarter.

Very early in the 3rd, Andre Miller pulled down rebound number 6, I reckon that was a highlight. And Marty hit a trey, that was swell. Other highlights of the first five minutes included another visit by Brandon to Cut Man Jay Jenson when another arm gouge started leaking Brandon juice.

Another goofyass Andre pass got picked and run out by the Grizz, and a 5 point lead became 3. Whatever the strengths of Miller's game are, and he does have his strengths, let there be no mistake, ball security is not one of them. Dre attempts passes that should not be attempted and ridiculous turnovers ending in easy opposition buckets result.

Andre attempted to atone soon after, snagging an offensive rebound to run his total to 7. He was fouled and hit a pair. That's my cue to say this: Andre's rebounding GOOD. Andre's free throwing GOOD. We know well what he doesn't do, it's good to remember what he does do well. He also drives it well and finishes at the rim well. And he seems to be a good teammate. So there.

Rice and MB killed 15 seconds and got face time on camera greedily shuffling through a stack of McDonalds coupons. Ronald McDonald knows where to put those things to generate maximum effect.

Tinsley carried and kicked out for a 3 ball, which gave Memphis the lead. Juwan got capped on the other end, and then Gasol got hammered by grandpa from behind going up for a layup. The crowed roared as Gasol collapsed into the standard. A Flagrant 1 was called, with Gasol hitting both FTs plus the ball. Memphis got the ball to Gasol and he scored it low, pushing the lead to 5. Then Memphis got a simple runout by Mayo. The run was 11-0 for Memphis and Nate needed time out. 80-73 Grizzlies. You play loose with this team, you lose. And that terrible foul by Howard did not help. At all.

Roy got 2 points back at the 3:15 mark, but Blazers couldn't stop: Z-bo was money from the top of the key. Swish. The teams traded buckets. Blazers needed a stop but instead delivered the Obligatory Defensive Foul technical instead. 

MB: "Andre Miller says 'Let's Run!'"

On cue, 0.3 seconds later, Andre dribbles the ball into oblivion and the ball rolls into the Grizzlies' paws. What a clod. Really, who started the idiotic rumor that Andre Miller knows how to run? He knows how to throw alley oops. He knows how to rebound. He knows how to throw outlet passes. He knows how to post up. He does not know how to run.

Rex drove and missed, Blazers garnered the offensive rebound, and Rex misfired on a trey at the horn.

Looking like another loss, with a REALLY hard week ahead. Grizz 87, Blazers 79 at the end of 3.

Fourth Quarter.

The final frame opened with Pendy nearly removing Marc Gasol's head just 30 seconds in. The crowd roared its approval and Gasol rubbed his neck while the Blazers quietly huddled and exchanged intense words. I guess if you're gonna lose, send a message or something. Gasol obligingly missed a pair, going to 4-for-9 from the charity stripe on the evening. Juwan scored on the other end and the lead was 6.

Gay missed a drive at the rim and on the other end Marty nailed an open trey when Sam Young failed to close. Whoosh! And the lead was down to 3 with nearly 11 minutes left to play. That was quick.

Pendy got a huge offensive tip, and the lead was just 1, but Tinsley nailed a jumper over the Portland zone. The crowd was into the game by now, however, and that's absolutely part of the winning equation for this team. "LET'S GO, BLAAAA-ZERRRSS!!!" Brandon drove and was fouled, splitting a pair and making the score 98-97.

"DEEE-FENSE!!! DEEE-FENSE!!!" Gonna be a lot of hoarse throats tomorrow.

Rex hit Marty, who dribbled in a step and drilled a long 2. Memphis drove the ball low but couldn't convert and the Blazers came out with it. On the other end Roy flipped a little pass over his shoulder to a cutting Juwan and the Blazers led, while the Rose Garden faithful roared — 91-89 at the 8:33 mark.

A series of Memphis fouls put the visitors into penalty at the 6:33 mark. Roy drilled a pair of FTs for his 23, starting a new streak. Unfortunately, seconds later Juwan Howard was binged for his 5th personal, sending him to the bench. Rex hit Marty for an assisted trey, but OJ Mayo was left wide open on the other end and he erased the lead. Roy got to the rack for two and Marty stole on the other end. Nice. OJ Mayo got frustrated and sent Rex to the line with a needless foul as the game was stopped for commercial. Rex's two makes gave him 10 for the evening, the sixth Blazer in double figures (Roy 27, Marty 21). The lead was 6 points with 5 minutes to play.

Later: Rex drove left and stopped, pulled back, examined his options, and drove right for a double-clutch finish for his 12. Gasol was fouled on the other end. He made 1 and missed the second, but Zach tipped in the miss, cutting the lead to just 5. Rex drove out of control and was capped, the ball going out of bounds to Memphis. Mayo missed a trey and Rex rebounded. Blazers couldn't score but Memphis could — Zbo with another offensive rebound and bunny basket at the rim. And the lead was 3.

Blazers missed but LMA volleyballed out the board, burned clock and LMA volleyballed out the rebound and Rex missed a three pointer long. Zbo fell hard, flexing his right leg all the way back. Zach was fouled on the other end and went to the line, cutting the lead to 104-102 on the split with 56.1 on the clock.

Roy dumped to LMA in the key but it ended in a turnover with OJ Mayo running out for the layup to tie the game. Memphis was feasting on an 8-0 run and Nate called time out. 104-all with 30.5 seconds.

Blazers were 1-for-6 with a turnover during the run. Memphis applied pressure with Mayo swatting the ball free and ROY getting whistled for the loose ball foul that put the deadly sophomore to the line. Mayo hit one, missd one, and Portland rebounded, down 1 point with 19.9 showing.

Chances were, this game was gonna finish close...

The inbounds pass came to Brandon, with OJ Mayo defending. Roy kicked the ball to Marty for what would have been a massive 3-ball, but he was long on the iron and Marc Gasol rebounded and was immediately fouled, with just 9.6 seconds to play and Portland out of time outs. Gasol was 5-for-11 from the line on the evening. He calmly hit the first but missed the second, with Martell gathering the rebound and outletting the ball to Rex. Rex was trying to drive and pass to LMA under the rim, but he was fouled on the pass and headed to the line with 4.3 to play. Two makes would mean a tie.

Rex shot the first and it rattled around and up and around and over and up and.............. OUT. Ya gotta miss the second one," Roy told Rex. Rex doesn't practice missing though, and he made it — a mental lapse. Rex was pissed, but the damage was done. Memphis called time out to advance the ball; even though 4.3 seconds showed on the clock, barring an interception and a miracle shot, this game was already over, since Portland had failed to keep a time out in its pocket. That's a coaching mistake, for those of you keeping score at home.

The intentional foul came at 3.3, with 84% FT shooter OJ Mayo heading to the line. The other infamous OJ was money on the first shot (write your own joke here), with Memphis calling a time out to set the defense. Mayo missed the second but Portland couldn't control the rebound, which went across the end line, ball to Memphis. Zbo was fouled with 2.4 left. Bang bang, you're dead. Memphis was on a 12-1 run in the last 3:45  to finish off the choking Blazers. Grizzlies 109, Blazers 105.

Well here's the Popcorn Machine GAME FLOW SUMMARY, for what it's worth. That link is functional, click it!

Observation 1: LMA played 41 minutes on one hoof.

Observation 2: Wacky game flow: This game was even. No, Portland HAD this game!!! No, Memphis HAD this game!!! No, Portland HAD this game!!! ............ D'oh!

Observation 3: Marty, with 10 points in the all-important 4th Quarter, was the SuperHero tonight. Brandon Roy had just 5 points in 12 minutes when he was needed most. Don't be too harsh on Bayless, it wasn't his fault.

Forward and onward... Lakers are next up.

 

Now tarry with me while we drink Earl Grey tea and sample delicious marionberry tarts and watch the latest installment of THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD:

Tbjlogo_medium

Well, another bundle of preliminaries is dispensed with. Time to proceed to the actual point of this exercise, believe it or not, the comments of the journalists and bloggers of Grizzlyworld, such as they are....

Page2_medium

(1)

Hot Memphis Grizzlies rally to bounce Blazers, 109-105

by Ronald Tillery, Memphis Commercial Appeal

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins didn't recognize his team in the first half because of its disjointed play.

By the end of the Grizzlies' 109-105 victory Tuesday night in the Rose Garden it was the Portland Trail Blazers who didn't know what hit them.

After sputtering and stalling at times throughout the game, Memphis found another gear in the final four minutes. The Griz overcame an eight-point deficit and overran the short-handed Blazers with a 13-1 run to earn their 17th victory of the season. * * *

 

(2)

Blazers Coach High on Lionel Hollins: McMillan says Griz leader rebuilding team in right way

By Ronald Tillery, Memphis Commercial Appeal

* * *
"They're the hottest team in the NBA right now," Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan said of the Grizzlies, who entered the Rose Garden Tuesday night winners of three games in a row and six of their past seven.

McMillan oversaw Portland's rebuilding phase and turned that team into a playoff contender. He's impressed with the foundation Hollins is laying with the Grizzlies.

"He's done a great job of giving those guys a direction," McMillan said. "He has a system in place, and he's done a great job of developing their talent and allowing that team to play. That's the most important thing when you're rebuilding." * * *

 

(3)

Grizzlies Looking for Deal if the Price Right

By Ronald Tillery, Memphis Commercial Appeal

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Earning a postseason berth hasn't been one of the Grizzlies' stated goals for this season. But privately, they have made appearing in the playoffs a mission.

To that end, the Grizzlies' effort to improve the team's depth is ongoing. Memphis has three first-round picks in the 2010 NBA draft and is peddling its two late-round selections in an attempt to add scoring off the bench.

The Griz will not take a player whose deal extends beyond this season if they indeed consummate a deal. Although they are willing to trade draft picks because of the team's youth, the Griz are not offering their own 2010 selection. * * *

 

(4)

What a Game

posted by "MemGrizz723" to Real GM Grizzlies message board

Wow what a game

Mayo and Randolph came up HUGE for us and won the GRIZZ the game.

FINALLY above .500 again.

 

(5)

Something, Anyway

posted by "Kevin B Moses" to Grizzlies Online message board

... The Blazers offensively at least probably played as good as they are capable and they still couldn't put the Grizzlies away.

Conversely, the Grizzlies played terrible on defense and STILL won. That is something.

 

(6)

Yo, Kevin ............. UP YOURS!!!

posted by "GF#1 to Grizzlies Online message board

After tonight I wouldn't be surprised if Kevin Pritchard sent out another letter to the entire NBA threating teams who attempt to beat them because of their injury situation.

Man it was nice to pritch-slap them whinny ***** again.

 

(7)

Bravo, Grizzlies!

posted by "J. Buckets" to Grizzlies Online message board

So proud of this team! Our hard work is starting to pay off.

Bravo Grizzlies.

 

(8)

Epiphany of Pain: Grizzlies Somehow Beat Blazers 109-105

by DJ Turtleface, Straight Outta Vancouver (SBN)

* * *
And man was it painful watching Portland pull away. The bench played particularly horrendous tonight, even by their standards, with Hasheem Thabeet and Sam Young combining for a stellar -32 in only 29 minutes played. Yes, it was as bad as it sounded for awhile.

But then all of a sudden things started getting just a bit less bad. The starters got back into the game and began playing the Blazers even. The announcers shouted that O.J. Mayo was heating up (not really). Zach Randolph made a legitimate hustle play.

Then he made another play, a put-back basket. And another play, another put-back basket. In case you haven't watched the Grizzlies, it's kind of Z-Bo's shot. * * *

 

(9)

Great Win

posted by "hueyproductions" to Straight Outta Vancouver

Great Win

I'd call it a "character win". So disheartening to watch Portland come back in the 4th quarter and pull away from the Grizz, but that last 4 minutes comeback made it all worth it.

A huge comeback win on the road against a team that was one of the hottest in the NBA - winning 8 of their previous 10 before we came into the building.

You don't come back and win those kinds of games unless you've got something special going on, and you have the character and fortitude to buckle down when down 8 with a few minutes left and put yourself in a position to win. Confidence and ONE TEAM at an all time high.

 

(10)   *** OOPS, MY BAD — I MISSED THIS... ***

Grizzlies Have It Out With Decimated Blazers

by Matthew Noe, Three Shades of Blue (TrueHoop)

* * *
Just what happened here? I don't really know, this was a weird game from the Griz' perspective. Very up and down...which is what one should expect from the youngest team in the league....but what isn't quite as expected is for that youngest team to come out on top on the road against a scrappy team and in one of the most hostile environments in the NBA. Just a bit to say about this one:

I don't think it's out of the question to consider the word "rivalry" between these two teams as time passes. Two good young teams, the hatred that POR fans have for ZBo (were those two icy FT's last night not the coolest crowd-silencer in history??? HAHAHAHAHA), the whole Darius Miles thing, and the certain chippiness to this game. Let's build one. Sure, the Griz won't always come out on top, but there are going to be some great games between these teams over the next several seasons. * * *

 

The Bottom Line:

1. GREAT win for our guys!

2. We're .500, just like the big kids...

3. Playoffs are coming... We're young, hungry, and stacked!

 

 

Punkrockvideos_medium

Here's another one for A.J. — my main man and his, LOU REED. Lou began as the lead singer of the legendary VELVET UNDERGROUND, house band for Andy Warhol's experimental combinations of projected visuals and sound. This first one is THE classic song from the ABSOLUTE PEAK of Lou's career, live in Paris in 1974. It simply doesn't get any better than this with Lou, kids... You can have your Beatles and your Stones, THIS is where it was at... I was a little too young to be on this train when it was leaving the station, but it was only a couple years later when I bought a ticket...

"Sweet Jane" (live version, 1974)

 

Well, that one wiped out my battleship with a single shot, let's go for a salvo on the aircraft carrier... Same show as the above and the below — if ya got good sound/good vid of Lou from 1974, there's no point spending time hunting for anything else... Sorta like you don't need to waste your time looking for a '63 Chevy if you already own a primo '57... This is a really quirky version of an old VELVET UNDERGROUND standard...

"I'm Waiting for the Man" (live version, 1974)

 

This song came off the 2nd solo album, Transformer, I think. Lou was called "The Godfather of Punk" becuse he had the attitude before the musical form ever emerged... Forget singing pretty, it was all about not flinching from the darker aspects of reality and delivering the full measure...

"Vicious" (live version, 1974)

 

Here's a fairly intelligent interview by Lou with some character with an English accent, but with German subtitles. In this conversation Lou reflects about the Warhol years with the Velvets, what the band was trying to do, and his move into more potent rock and roll as a solo artist. NSW Language warning!

Interview, late 1970s?

 

Another Mega-Hit... This one recorded in 1982, towards the expiration date on the milk carton... Sorta NSW lyrics, I suppose.

"Walk on the Wild Side" (live version, 1982)

 

Bowie does Lou at the GQ Awards.

"I'm Waiting for the Man" (live version, 1997)